Mauna Kea Summit & Observatory

Mauna Kea tours depart from Hilo, Kona, and Waikoloa Village, and usually last upwards of eight hours. Whether you choose to visit for sunrise, sunset, a midday summit tour, or after-dark stargazing, the mountain makes for a popular day trip on the Big Island.

The Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station sits at 9,300 feet (2,790 m) and features interactive displays and videos, with telescopes, talks, and tours. It’s important to stop here even if you’re headed to the summit to acclimate to the altitude. In addition to checking out the magnificent night sky, you can learn about Mauna Kea’s formation and why the mountain is considered sacred to native Hawaiians.

The Visitor Information Station is an hour’s drive from Hilo, via Highway 200. From Kailua-Kona, the drive takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes on Highway 190; from Waikoloa, it’s about 50 minutes via the Saddle Road to the visitor center. Camping is not allowed on Mauna Kea.

Sunrise and sunset are great times to visit Mauna Kea. Enjoy stargazing (offered nightly from 6 to 10pm) andhot chocolate (available for purchase) at the Visitor Information Station, or rise bright and early to drive up to the summit in time to watch the sunrise.

The Subaru Telescope, the W.M. Keck Observatory, and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility take advantage of Mauna Kea’s ideal location near the equator and above most of the atmosphere’s water vapor, which means a clear view of stars in both of the earth’s hemispheres.

You can make an ambitious go of the summit on your own (on foot or in a vehicle), or join an organized summit adventure tour during visiting hours (from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset). From the Visitor Information Station, a roughly 10-hour, roundtrip hike on a rugged trail takes you to the top and back. Be prepared for a workout, and be sure to wear layers and sturdy closed-toe walking shoes; you’ll encounter all kinds of weather as you ascend above the Big Island’s layer of cloud cover. You must bring your own water and pack out your waste; there are no amenities on the trail.

If you’d rather drive to the top, you’ll need a 4-wheel drive vehicle, plenty of water and sunscreen, and a keen eye for hazards. Depending on conditions, summit attempts can be particularly dangerous in winter. Mauna Kea is one of the only places in the world where you can drive from sea level to nearly 14,000 feet in a few hours.

No, the Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) are private research facilities and not open to the public. However, you can visit the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy and there are plenty of guided tours that will take you to the summit of Mauna Kea for some stargazing with the operators’ own telescopes.

At 13,796 feet (4,205 meters), conditions on the Mauna Kea summit are typically chilly. Summer daytime temperatures average between freezing and 50°F (8°C). Winter temperatures range from 25 to 40°F (-4 to 4°C), but wind chill can make it seem even colder.

Yes, you can see the Milky Way from Mauna Kea. Mauna Kea is one of the best places in the world to see the Milky Way. While it is typically visible with the naked eye, the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station has a few telescopes that visitors can use. Rangers also provide astronomical information in a nightly program.

Summit visiting hours are from half an hour before sunrise through half an hour after sunset. The best way to experience Mauna Kea is to reach the summit in time for the sunset then go down to Visitor Information Center at 9,200 feet (2,800 meters) for an evening of stargazing.